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Shepherding is not an easy business. The hours and the walks are long, the conditions are often dirty, and attention to ...
11/07/2024

Shepherding is not an easy business. The hours and the walks are long, the conditions are often dirty, and attention to detail is a must. Sheep are not the brightest of animals, and they have strong tendencies to wander off, get stuck, or leave themselves vulnerable to predators. When David wrote that the Lord was his shepherd, he was making a profound statement about God's watchful eye over his people and his attentiveness to our needs. When the prophets wrote of shepherds who misled God's people, they were issuing strong indictments against neglectful and dangerous leaders. And when Jesus compared a shepherd's desire to leave ninety-nine safe sheep behind to go after the one that was lost, he was painting a powerful picture of the heart of heaven toward those who have strayed. The task of shepherding is constant, demanding, and based on the shepherd's compassion and care.

So when Jesus identified himself as the Good Shepherd who sacrifices his life for the sheep, he took shepherding characteristics to their ultimate extreme to assure his followers that they were under the best of care. His words remind us that our tendency to live in fear, anxiety, worry, insecurity, and mistrust—our unfounded belief that we are on our own and subject to random forces of harm—is completely unwarranted. Though we can be certain we will face trials and hardships, we can also be certain that God governs our lives and guards us from ultimate dangers. He is leading us safely and securely to very pleasant places.

It is vital, both for your own sake and the sake of those who look to you for a connection with eternal truth, to live with that assurance. It will keep you calm in crises and anchor your attitudes in the invisible realm of the Spirit. It will become a signpost to your world that there is value in living by faith and not by sight. And it will serve as an open invitation for others to enter into the watchful care of their Shepherd.

”I am the good shepherd. The good shepherd sacrifices his life for the sheep.“
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭11‬

Jesus told his followers that the gateway into the life of God's Kingdom was very narrow, and only a few would ever find...
10/07/2024

Jesus told his followers that the gateway into the life of God's Kingdom was very narrow, and only a few would ever find it (Matthew 7:14). And it's true; our entrance into the Kingdom is as narrow as a single Savior. But many people throughout the centuries have assumed that the narrow way leads to a narrow life, with hardly any room to enjoy the journey. But Jesus was just as clear that as the gateway for his sheep, he leads to good pastures—pleasant spaces with plenty of greenery and scenery and openness. He encloses us in safety but frees us to enjoy his fields. He is the entryway into a life of fruitfulness and joy.

lot of people don't know that. Some think they can only experience freedom by entering the gate and then keeping their distance from him. Others who are used to following principles enter willfully into a new captivity just as confining as the old one, but call it freedom just to line up with Scripture. The truth is something else—a realization that freedom comes simply by entering the gate, by drawing close to the Son who sets us free and keeps us safe. There is no other way to enter into good pastures.

Make sure you represent that picture in your relationships with others. Don't offer alternative ways to freedom because there aren't any. But don't disguise the freedom you've been given with false restrictions and demands. Jesus doesn't give you a list of requirements to fulfill; he empowers you to overcome the things that weigh you down. While much of the world has sought its freedom independently of God—and gotten further enslaved to their own passions in the process—you seek your freedom in him. Demonstrate the unexpected paradox that freedom from God leads to captivity, but captivity to God leads to freedom. You've found the narrow gate; make it as inviting as you can by pointing to it as the source of your wide-open adventure.

”Yes, I am the gate. Those who come in through me will be saved. They will come and go freely and will find good pastures.“
‭‭John‬ ‭10‬:‭9‬

Jesus told his followers they were the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Of course, we don't generate our own light; we...
09/07/2024

Jesus told his followers they were the light of the world (Matthew 5:14). Of course, we don't generate our own light; we were drawn to his light when we came out of darkness by responding to him by faith. We hardly knew how to shine on our own. But somewhere along the way, if we were observant, we learned a valuable truth: that we grow brighter simply by being around him. Like the glow-in-the-dark stickers many of us used to play with as children, we absorb the real source of light by being close to it. Our exposure to the light develops a shine in us that lasts even when darkness comes.

That's why Isaiah foretold the people of God rising with his light shining on them (Isaiah 60:1-3) and Peter wrote of the Morning Star shining in our hearts (2 Peter 1:19). Something profound happens to us when we allow ourselves to soak in the presence of God. We become reflectors of the true source, like a moon glowing from its sun and illuminating the way for those in the darkest nights. We receive vision in the light of God, and we are sent out to share our vision with the rest of the world. We become carriers of hope, ambassadors of the promises of God, signs of the wonders he is working. Jesus, the Light of the World, replicated himself in the lives of those who believe. The Light ignited millions of lights to follow him.

Live as a light—not as the source, but as a reflector of the true image of God. Shine with hope, promise, and purpose, always pointing the way into eternal truth. Radiate the nature of the Son, who in turn radiated the nature of the Father and the Spirit. Fill the lives of those around you with glimmers of eternity, sparks of anticipation of the goodness of God. Let your words, actions, and attitudes shine with life.

”Jesus spoke to the people once more and said, “I am the light of the world. If you follow me, you won’t have to walk in darkness, because you will have the light that leads to life.”“
‭‭John‬ ‭8‬:‭12‬

One of the prominent features of John's gospel is Jesus' "I am" statements. The climax of those statements is the one th...
08/07/2024

One of the prominent features of John's gospel is Jesus' "I am" statements. The climax of those statements is the one that is least defined, when Jesus simply hinted at the divine name of God and applied it to himself: I Am (John 8:58). The others are all metaphors that are loaded with meaning—not only for how we understand Jesus' identity but also for our mission in the world. If Jesus offered the resources of divine life to his followers and then sent his followers into the world with the same mission, we need to know what we are offering. The "I am" statements give us a series of pictures of our message.

When crowds asked Jesus for a miraculous sign like their ancestors experienced when manna fell from heaven, Jesus identified himself as the true bread from heaven. Earthly bread nourishes for a moment but doesn't sustain the spirit, and it doesn't last longer than a day. Jesus, however—not just his words or his power, but his life within us—nourishes forever. To have him is life; not to have him is death. We may live in natural bodies for a time, but only with Jesus can we enter into eternal life. Only the bread of heaven enables us to thrive.

Is the life you are living qualitatively different from the life of those who are nor in a relationship with Jesus? If not, you are not living from the nourishment the Bread of Life gives you, even if it has already been made available to you by faith. Salvation by grace through faith gives us access to the life of Jesus; only ongoing faith and dependence allow us to experience it each day. Receive that gift constantly, and you will grow in confidence in offering it to others. It will feed your spirit and, like one beggar telling another where to find bread, you will fill other mouths with its nourishment. The bread of life will satisfy your hunger forever.

”Jesus replied, “I am the bread of life. Whoever comes to me will never be hungry again. Whoever believes in me will never be thirsty.“
‭‭John‬ ‭6‬:‭35‬

If anyone ever had a right to be offended, it was Jesus. A perfectly righteous man was condemned, tortured, ridiculed, a...
07/07/2024

If anyone ever had a right to be offended, it was Jesus. A perfectly righteous man was condemned, tortured, ridiculed, and executed by a host of unsavory characters who had no idea what and whom they were dealing with. They were rulers and citizens of a rebellious world, abusing the Son of God who created it. Yet Jesus refused to live or die with an offense. He forgave his tormentors for what appears to us to be almost unforgivable. His ministry of reconciliation took priority over his personal wounds.

That's a great model for us to follow. Most of us have plenty of personal wounds—some self-inflicted or well-deserved, others quite undeserved at the hands of abusive or ignorant people. Yet we have been called to a ministry of reconciliation in which we seek the highest good for the greatest number of people around us, which includes those who have hurt us. Yes, we are victimized at times by cruel and destructive words and actions; and yes, we have every right to be angry. But ultimately we find ourselves in the position of having been reconciled to God in spite of our own offenses, and we have to seck the reconciliation of others in spite of theirs. We are called to live unoffended lives.

That's hard to do. The only way we can is to see into eternity and know the grace we've been given, the inheritance we've been promised, and the love that surrounds us even now. When we do—when we're immersed in the glories of heaven—earthly offenses become minor issues, much smaller than the spiritual and emotional needs of those who offend us. We no longer have to zealously guard our own interests because we know God is zealously guarding them for us. We no longer have to lick our wounds or protect our hearts because we've been healed and are protected. We are free to love and forgive—and to demonstrate what it's like to be so free.

”Jesus said, “Father, forgive them, for they don’t know what they are doing.” And the soldiers gambled for his clothes by throwing dice.“
‭‭Luke‬ ‭23‬:‭34‬

People who heard Hudson Taylor pray used to remark how familiar he seemed with God, talking with the Father as with a fr...
06/07/2024

People who heard Hudson Taylor pray used to remark how familiar he seemed with God, talking with the Father as with a friend in the room. The same is true for people who overheard the prayers of George Müller, John Hyde, and many other missionaries and ministers whose most significant works were bathed in a rich life of prayer. There was something about the nature of these relationships with God that made people realize how accessible he is and how real he could be in their daily lives. They were moved simply by the awareness that a human being could genuinely, tangibly walk with the Father.

That kind of relationship is visible not only in prayer; it shows up in conversation, in attitudes, and in a person's responses to adversity or opportunity. When a life is truly reconciled to God, it takes on a different nature. It is seasoned with comfort, assurance, gratitude, and faith. It radiates a certain quality that seems to come from another world. It makes an impression.

This is the message of reconciliation we carry. Sometimes that message will be explicitly stated when we recognize opportunities to spell out how a person can be reconciled with God. Sometimes it will simply be implied in the way we live and the attitudes we have, with those around us asking us to explain why we are hopeful or wondering how we can be so calm in the midst of hardships. In every case, the message of reconciliation goes way beyond words to communicate the ways of the Spirit. It draws people into a relationship with God because they suddenly realize a relationship with him is possible.

Make it your goal to live a reconciled life—a life that is rooted in faith, confident in your Father's goodness, at peace with his will, and as intimate and familiar as a relationship can be. Don't force opportunities to share this reconciliation with others, but do look for them and take advantage of them when they open. Some things are better caught before they are taught, and this is one of them. Your life is a window that reveals what a partnership with God looks like.

”For God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people’s sins against them. And he gave us this wonderful message of reconciliation.“
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬

JESUS walked from town to town in Galilee and Judea, and sometimes beyond, teaching the truths of God's Kingdom and demo...
04/07/2024

JESUS walked from town to town in Galilee and Judea, and sometimes beyond, teaching the truths of God's Kingdom and demonstrating its true nature. Crowds knew him as a healer and deliverer, a man of profound words, the one who quite possibly would deliver Israel and restore it to its former glory. But from a God's-eye view, Jesus was doing more than blessing those around him. He was reconciling them to the Father. In fact, "God was in Christ, reconciling the world to himself, no longer counting people's sins against them" (2 Corinthians 5:19). And according to Paul, God has given his servants exactly the same mission.

That's a claim loaded with meaning and enormous implications for how we live our lives. If we are reconcilers—calling the world back to the Father, refusing to count people's sins against them because the mercy of God is pursuing them—then that calling will flavor all of our relationships. We are compelled by the love of God—not to fill every conversation with a gospel appeal, though at times that appeal will come up, but to live and talk in a way that makes that appeal inviting and understood. We are to live with open arms that welcome people into the Kingdom of God.

That makes you something of a doorway into a restored relationship with the Father. You'll have to be secure in your own relationship with him, of course, but you'll also need to live in the reality of that relationship. You are a new person in Christ, a new creation (2 Corinthians 5:17), no longer relating to God on the terms of your old nature but as one clothed in Jesus and bearing his identity and name. The old life is gone; you are now moved by his love to bless, reconcile, restore, and embrace. Wear your role as reconciler with joy, placing it above all other roles at home, work, school, church, in the community—wherever. Be the bridge that points to an even greater Bridge between the world and the Father who loves it.

”And all of this is a gift from God, who brought us back to himself through Christ. And God has given us this task of reconciling people to him.“
‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭5‬:‭18‬

God may have a specific calling for many of us, but He is far more interested in commitment and devotion in the work we ...
03/07/2024

God may have a specific calling for many of us, but He is far more interested in commitment and devotion in the work we do than in the position we hold. When we delight in him and commit our ways to Him, He leads us through our desires and interests, opportunities and circumstances, gifts and talents, and counsel and convictions. He has been known to put his people on unexpected platforms in the least likely venues—an imprisoned Israelite named Joseph who became a ruler in Egypt, a shepherd named David who became king of Israel, a fig farmer named Amos who became a prophet, a Jewish girl named Esther who became queen of a pagan land, and more. Some of our platforms are beyond our control; some are given when we follow our interests and convictions. In any case, God thinks far more creatively about the ways we serve him than we do. Commit your ways to Him in whatever you do, and see what He does in return.

”Commit your actions to the Lord, and your plans will succeed.“
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭16‬:‭3‬

This verse is sobering, filled with words that almost everyone can agree with but few will actually fulfill. Jesus had h...
02/07/2024

This verse is sobering, filled with words that almost everyone can agree with but few will actually fulfill. Jesus had harsh words for hypocrites and once asked his followers pointedly why they called him Lord but didn't do what he said (Luke 6:46). Of course, there's a significant difference between falling short of a standard and being a hypocrite who claims something but ignores it. We can forgive ourselves for our imperfection. But for claiming to be followers of Jesus without actually following him? That's a problem. We are called to live as Jesus lived.

That's a very high standard, and it begs for interpretation. We are not called to preach in an ancient agrarian society, challenge corrupt religious leaders, and die on a cross to save the world. But we are told to live and preach the message of the Kingdom, challenge injustices and deception, and take up our cross daily. We are also told to live with humility, be generous to the poor, love and serve those around us, walk in the power of the Spirit, be wise, and demonstrate the character of Jesus in all that we do. There's a reason Scripture repeatedly lifts Jesus up as our example. He is the model we are expected to follow.

That's why Jesus called both himself and his followers the light of the world (John 8:12; Matthew 5:14), why he told them they would do greater works than he did (John 14:12), why he said they would be persecuted as he was (John 15:20), and why he presented himself as an example to follow (John 13:15, 34). Students are to look a lot like their teachers, servants like their masters, and disciples like the one who trains them. We are being made into an image of original design and divine restoration—nothing short of the exact representation of God (Hebrews 1:3). It's a high calling but a necessary one. There is grace for falling short but encouragement never to give up. If Jesus is to be seen in this world, it will be through those who follow him.

”Those who say they live in God should live their lives as Jesus did.“
‭‭1 John‬ ‭2‬:‭6‬

JESUS accepted an invitation to dinner, and the guest list included a lot of unsavory characters—"disreputable sinners,"...
01/07/2024

JESUS accepted an invitation to dinner, and the guest list included a lot of unsavory characters—"disreputable sinners," the text calls them (Matthew 9:10). The Pharisees, like most well-behaved people, had been taught for most of their lives to avoid bad company, and Jesus' casual disregard for his associations and his own reputation irked them. "Why does your teacher eat with such scum?" they asked his disciples (9:11). We don't know how the disciples answered, but Jesus response is recorded for us. He pointed out that healthy people don't need a doctor and that the Good News is for those who have fallen short and recognize their need.

That focus has compelled many believers to go into the unsavory places of this world—brothels, bars, drug-infested tenements and alleys—to rescue those who know their need. The work is hard and dangerous, and not always fruitful. But sometimes it results in remarkable testimonies of deliverance and restoration, of addictions that are broken and painful lives that get a fresh start. Many Christians advise against such work—usually not with the same objections the Pharisees had toward Jesus, but out of concern for the well-being of the one who ministers there. But for those who do not struggle with or have overcome the temptations of a particular environment, the calling is worthwhile. It takes the power of the gospel into the places where it is needed most.

Don't be afraid to go into challenging places with the power of the Good News. Avoid situations that are a temptation for you, of course; don't expose your weaknesses to unnecessary pressures. But don't stand back, either. Far too many Christians wait for the world to come to their churches like a hospital stands ready for the sick. In a society that assumes the church will judge and reject—or that doesn't even understand its own sickness—that approach won't work. Go where you are needed; serve wherever you can; take God's grace on the road to reach a grace-hungry world.

“I have come to call not those who think they are righteous, but those who know they are sinners.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭9‬:‭13‬

"There is properly no history; only biography," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, and it's true. Sure, there have been events, ...
30/06/2024

"There is properly no history; only biography," wrote Ralph Waldo Emerson, and it's true. Sure, there have been events, movements, and statistics throughout the centuries. But all of those events, movements, and statistics exist because of the people who formed them and participated in them. Perhaps that's why God gave us not an overview of salvation history but a life-by-life personal account of its major events and themes. The story of his people is the story of ... well, actual people. It's all about his work in the real world—not only in the body as a whole but in the lives of individuals who love, worship, and follow him. It is deeply personal.

That's true for your story too. You may tend to see God's Kingdom as a global movement or a someday prophecy, but it's much more personal than that. It's not an abstract principle. It's the story of lives, including yours. That makes every person significant, every choice meaningful, every job important, and every relationship lasting. Every encounter with another human being holds the potential for a brush with truth and meaning. We aren't dealing simply in theories and beliefs. We're building lives.

Never lose sight of that. The Kingdom of God is about lives, not principles. It changes hearts, not groups. Yes, there are collective elements; the body of Christ has many members who are meant to live and move as parts of the whole. But the whole doesn't exist without the parts, and every part is significant. Your story and the stories of those around you are vital elements in human history and the eternal Kingdom. They are made up of critical moments, each of which has the capacity to prompt growth and change. Live with the awareness that everything—every aspect of the story, even on this particular day—is sacred. Today and every day, you walk on holy ground.

”Since we are receiving a Kingdom that is unshakable, let us be thankful and please God by worshiping him with holy fear and awe.“
‭‭Hebrews‬ ‭12‬:‭28‬

In the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Luke Skywalker landed on a swampy planet in search of a master teacher. The first creature h...
25/06/2024

In the EMPIRE STRIKES BACK, Luke Skywalker landed on a swampy planet in search of a master teacher. The first creature he met turned out to be Yoda, the teacher he was looking for, but Luke didn't know that at first. Instead, he saw a small, odd character who was getting on his nerves. Once he learned Yoda's identity and submitted to his teaching, Luke had to go through a change in mind-set to access the power of the Force. He needed a whole new way of thinking.

The Force is not God, of course, and we won't be working on any telekinetic powers in our discipleship. But like Luke, we will need to transform our minds in order to walk in the power of God's Kingdom. The Greek word for repentance, metanoia, emphasizes this change in thinking, and though the Gospels certainly urge us to repent of our sins, the call goes deeper than that. It includes a renewed mind, a radically different perspective, a revolutionized way of seeing the world. It involves stepping into God's counterintuitive ways and learning to think his thoughts. If we don't embrace that change of thought, we will not be able to see the Kingdom or experience its ways.

The implications are varied and enormous, but they include no longer seeing ourselves as victims of the world, feeling like life and circumstances are conspiring against us, and always being under problems instead of over them. It means taking God's promises seriously, even when they don't seem realistic. It means actually believing that, in Christ, we walk in God's favor, are worthy to receive his blessings, and can expect victories over the kingdom of darkness and the ways of the world. It means we have to learn to live by faith and not by sight.

You will need a new mind for that, but the good news is God has promised to transform your thoughts if you will let him (Romans 12:2). With a renewed mind you will not only be able to walk in the power of God's Kingdom but also see what the world needs. And you will be equipped to give it freely.

”Repent of your sins and turn to God, for the Kingdom of Heaven is near.”
‭‭Matthew‬ ‭3‬:‭2‬

A few christian businesspeople started a Bible study at their office but didn't present it as a Bible study or even as a...
24/06/2024

A few christian businesspeople started a Bible study at their office but didn't present it as a Bible study or even as a religious group at all. They simply discussed profound truths—the importance of integrity, the value of hard work, the effectiveness of a disciplined mind—and applied them to their work setting. Eventually, participants in the discussion group asked where this great material was coming from. When the leaders explained that all of these truths were drawn from the Bible, and primarily from the book of Proverbs, some of the inquirers gave their lives to Christ. Truth had drawn them to God even when it had not been presented in spiritual
terms.

Proverbs 8 is written in the voice of Wisdom, and it calls all who need understanding to enter in. Wisdom was formed before the foundation of the world and was woven into creation as its underlying principle (Proverbs 8:22-31). It flows from the mind of the Creator. So when people encounter true wisdom, they are encountering something from God. Wisdom draws people to him, whether they know it or not.

You don't have to quote chapter and verse to speak God's Word into people's lives. You don't even need to identify your counsel as biblical. You do, however, need to soak in the Holy Spirit's presence and receive insight from him. A person who saturates him- or herself in truth will find it flowing freely in moments when wisdom is needed. When you bask in the light of God's counsel and listen for his voice, you begin to think his thoughts, walk in his power, exude his love, and develop his attitudes. You represent his nature.

You have the potential to bless those around you with the wisdom of God, even if you don't think you're particularly wise. Ground yourself in truth and offer it freely—but never forcefully—to those who seek advice. Don't worry about citing your source; that time will come. Let people be drawn to the logic that founded this world.

”For whoever finds me finds life and receives favor from the Lord.“
‭‭Proverbs‬ ‭8‬:‭35‬

In the dominant culture of the Roman Empire, pride was considered a virtue. The humble were seen as weak, and the proud ...
23/06/2024

In the dominant culture of the Roman Empire, pride was considered a virtue. The humble were seen as weak, and the proud were admired for being assertive and maximizing their self-interests. So when many pagans became Christians, they had quite an adjustment to make. They learned that humility is a virtue in the Kingdom of God and that God resists the proud. His grace comes most easily to those who recognize their pride and do whatever they can to get rid of it.

Pride has made something of a comeback in our culture. Though many of us are turned off by arrogant athletes or performers, others laud them for their honesty—for not feigning humility and for having self-confidence. We've been told that it's not arrogance "if you can back it up," even though arrogance has little to do with truth or falsehood. The real issue is thinking too much of oneself and thinking too little of others. Humility honors others and seeks their interests; pride turns inward and thinks primarily of self. It has become a rather popular attitude, and its acceptability is growing.

Fortunately, God has not given us the mission of cutting down the proud. In fact, many who display arrogance are actually insecure people who are compensating for past wounds. We first need to see through their hardened veneer and minister to their hearts, but we must also demonstrate the power of humility. That's a difficult line to walk, but it can change lives. It puts our Kingdom values on display.

This is one of the ways we have been called to live counter to our culture. Embrace it and refuse to be drawn into the competitive, contentious, self-promoting ways of the world. Let Jesus be your model; though he made extravagant claims about who he was, he came primarily to serve. Your influence in the lives of others depends not on whether you can impress them but on whether you can uplift them. Invite people into the Kingdom culture by seeking their well-being.

”Though the Lord is great, he cares for the humble, but he keeps his distance from the proud.“
‭‭Psalms‬ ‭138‬:‭6‬

In the year 403, Augustine visited Carthage at the same time that priests of the Roman imperial cult gathered to celebra...
23/06/2024

In the year 403, Augustine visited Carthage at the same time that priests of the Roman imperial cult gathered to celebrate their loyalty to the emperor with chariot races, gladiator contests, and public banquets. He preached a series of sermons there, some of which pointed out the misplaced priorities of the culture. The rich, both non-Christian and Christian, were investing their fortunes in entertainers, while the poor remained invisible to them. Even worse, they were investing their souls in superficial pursuits.

John suggested that the love of God within us moves us not only to see the material needs of others but to respond to them with compassion. Of course, in this day and age, we can see around the world through a television or computer screen. The world's needs are always in front of us, and we would soon be overwhelmed trying to contribute to them all. But the point is clear: If we pour out our resources on things that have no eternal value while neglecting those in desperate need, we are missing something vital in our relationship with God. His compassion is not flowing through us as it should. We are not deeply in touch with his Spirit.

God has a heart for the poor. Numerous passages of Scripture make that clear: the law of Moses, the wisdom of Psalms and Proverbs, the judgments of the Prophets, the apostolic writings of the New Testament, and all sorts of stories and references in between. Caring for the poor is one of the more prominent themes of redemptive history, yet it is hardly prominent in the preaching and teaching of modern Christianity in prosperous countries. That has to change. Giving to the poor is not a political philosophy, and it is more than cleaning out our closets and giving away what we don't want anymore. It's a work of God, and it reflects something of who he is to a world skeptical of Christian priorities.

”If someone has enough money to live well and sees a brother or sister in need but shows no compassion—how can God’s love be in that person?“
‭‭1 John‬ ‭3‬:‭17‬

Many of us rush into prayer with a list of requests. We're pretty clear on what we want God to do but also careful to ad...
22/06/2024

Many of us rush into prayer with a list of requests. We're pretty clear on what we want God to do but also careful to add "if it's your will" to the end. But what if our prayers began with a request to know the Father's will? Before itemizing our requests, what if our conversation with him went deeper to see his intentions for our lives and circumstances, to get a sense of what he is doing, and to partner with him in asking that it be done?

That's the model Jesus gave us. He said he only did what he saw the Father doing. He went away by himself often to talk with his Father, and he lived with an awareness of how God was working—what his priorities were, and how he wanted to carry them out. We may think such knowledge is unique to the Son of God, the exact image of the Father's nature—and to a degree, we might be right. But Jesus is also our example, the perfect model of what it means to be a child of God in this world, the template for how to live as someone made in the Father's image. His redemptive work was unique, but he passed his mission on to his followers and demonstrated the modus operandi we are to follow. When he said he did only what he saw the Father doing, he was giving us a pattern to embrace.

Make that the standard for your entire life, and let it begin in your intercession. Before you spend time asking, spend time listening. Let the Spirit impress on you his intentions. Let him give you vision, insight, wisdom, and the mind of Christ. When you have a sense of that—or even when you think you might have a sense of that but aren't sure—proceed with your petitions. You will find them taking a new shape, and you will see God's answers taking shape around you. Let your prayers weave his Kingdom into this world.

”So Jesus explained, “I tell you the truth, the Son can do nothing by himself. He does only what he sees the Father doing. Whatever the Father does, the Son also does.“
‭‭John‬ ‭5‬:‭19‬

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